Justjen-knits&stitches

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Friday, 14 November 2014

Wow, it's been so long since I've written a post, I've almost forgotten how to :-).
I think it's time to refresh and move on from the last post, don't you, so here is a different flowery version of an old tea cosy pattern of mine.
Here's the original 1 cup Tea Cosy, with some large daisies on it.

A friend of mine on Ravelry made the pattern a long time ago, but only being a beginner crocheter back then, made the flowers smaller by accident (you know who you are xx). It looked so cute I always said I'd make another version with smaller flowers from her inspiration. So here is a different version.

It is made to fit a 1 to 1 1/2 cup teapot.

But then another friend told me it needed butterflies, so never one to disappoint, I found some pretty butterflies to attach. These aren't washable and are sticking on quite well actually, but of course if you can find some cute butterfly buttons they will look even better!

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

I have A LOT of crochet block books from over the years, but this one has taken my fancy.
It's very new and modern, with 283 pages of different squares, rounds, hexagons, triangles ...

As well as blocks, there's hearts and leaves, spirals and flowers, pot holders, ripples, stars.
All the new stitches like crocodile stitch (above), the very popular African Flower Hexagon, Spinning Wheels plus lots of old favourites.
And not to mention, a lot of the block patterns can be increased and repeated to make some very yummy scarves and fingerless glove, like the pink flower block above.

Even though I should be concentrating on getting 3 projects finished at the moment, I couldn't go past this snowflake block, especially this time of year!

My directions are only to show you how to use the block to create a Tea Cosy.

Naturally due to copyright the pattern for the block can't be printed here - sorry :-).

Fits approx a 4 cup Teapot. English Crochet Terms are used throughout.

I used 8ply/Dk yarn and a 3.50mm crochet hook. The smaller hook makes the snowflake design tighter and more prominent I think. (Make 2 blocks).

I didn't fasten off from the last round of the block so my directions continue from there.
Starting with 3ch (counts as a tr) tr in every st, do the corners the same as previous rounds in the pattern, and join to the 3rd ch at the beginning. Fasten off.

Don't work across the bottom from here on. Make sure you place the fastened off edge to one side, not at the bottom, so you have a nice neat finished bottom edge for the cosy (see where it is in the previous pic?).
Fasten yarn to the right hand bottom edge, work facing you. 3ch and 1 tr in the corner space. Tr up the side and work the corner as before.
Across the top - tr2tog until you get to the next corner, work the corner as in the pattern.
Tr down the other side and finish with 2 tr in the bottom corner space. Fasten off.

Finish the other block to this stage as well.

Now you can join both pieces and finish the rest of the cosy in the round.

Fasten yarn to the top right hand corner space of the front piece (work facing you).

3ch, (counts as a tr), tr in every st across top to the other top corner, 1 tr in the corner space.

Take the back piece, making sure it's also facing right side out, and tr in it's corner space, tr in each st across the top, then 1tr in the other top corner.

You're back to the beginning now so slst into the 3rd of the 3ch at the start to join both pieces.

Sorry this one looks a little lopsided, I hadn't straightened it into position before the photo - I know, it's bugging me too :-)

Tr 5 more rounds in red and 1 round in white. fasten off.

Sew both sides up a little from the bottom, and down from the top to fit your Teapot's spout and handle. Sometimes when I'm making tea cosies for sale or a gift, I'll use a crochet tie at the bottom instead of joining both sides. Teapots are all different sizes.

At the top end, make a chain stitch drawstring to run through either the decrease row, or the next tr round of the pattern, depending on what fit's your Teapot better. It's easy enough to thread it in between the stitches.

Don't pull it in really tight, just enough to fit it to your teapot (see photo below). The Tea Cosy is designed to be a little open at the top to mimic a sweater :-).

Fold the top down to form the top like a Turtle Neck Sweater. Sew on a button or decoration to finish.

Monday, 14 October 2013

Here is the 2nd little Halloween pattern, The Little Zombie.
As I mentioned in the previous Little Vampire post, I did try to make him look scary, but he still looks quite friendly even with his bloodshot bulging eyes and his bloodthirsty smile :-).
I had a lot of fun making him, hope you do as well .

The Little Zombie

The Little Zombie measures only 11.5cm tall and is knitted in DK/8ply yarn.

Sunday, 13 October 2013

Just thought I'd pop in and post these two patterns before Halloween. Hope everyone has been well, I haven't been able to visit much of late.
We don't celebrate Halloween to the same extent as other countries, but I made the next two little people a while ago, similar to my Toy Soldier Christmas Decoration. We've always been a ghoulish family, loving our spooky, scary stuff. Not that these two are very scary, I tried to make the Zombie look scary but he still looks like a softie.
The first one is here, the second one, the little Zombie will be in a couple of days. Hope you like...

The Little Vampire

The Little Vampire is only 11.5cm tall, and is knitted in DK/8ply yarn.

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Before the pattern, I'd like to send my Family's love and condolences to the Families suffering from the Oklahoma Tornado. We have cried for you here today, seeing such devastation and loss of beautiful lives. Our thoughts are with you all xxoo.
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This is a little Toy Soldier Christmas Ornament 11cm tall . One of the ornaments I'm making for the Ravelry Christmas Group KAL

Materials
Scraps of 8ply / DK yarn in Black, Red, White, Flesh and a small amount of yellow for his uniform decoration.
Stuffing
Piece of gold thread or whatever you prefer to hang him from.
Pair of 3.25mm knitting needles.

His body is worked in one piece with the seam up the back. The arms are knitted and sewn on separately.
Always leave a a reasonably long thread at the cast on, cast off and colour changes of your work, to use when sewing up.

Body - Make 1
With 3.25mm needles, cast on 16sts.
St st 14 rows Black
Change to Red
St st 9 rows
Next Row - Still with Red, P2 tog to end - 8sts, this makes his neck.
Change to Flesh and K 1 row
Next Row - Increase purlwise in every stitch to end - 16sts.
St st 4 more rows in Flesh
Change to Black and st st 6 rows.
Thread the yarn back through the stitches on the needle, take off, gather tightly and fasten off, leaving enough yarn to sew him up.

Making Up
Sew in any threads you won't be using for sewing up.
With right side facing out, Start at the top of his head and sew down the back seam, using each colour thread, to sew up each colour as you go. Leave bottom of legs open for stuffing.

Stuff him, through the bottom opening. Don't over stuff him, you'll be sewing a line of stitching down the centre to divide his legs.It will be easier if his legs aren't too "fat" :-)
Oversew across the bottom seam, with the body seam running down the back.

Do all his body decorative stitching now before you attach his arms.

With Black yarn, sew a line of backstitching from the bottom, up the middle of his black trousers, pulling the stitches in to define his two legs. Stop about 1cm from the top of his trousers.

With White, sew a backstitch up the outside of each leg.

With Yellow, sew 4 long stitches across his Red coat.
Sew his chin strap on in black, and for his moustache either use a 1ply unravelled from your yarn or some embroidery cotton.
Start in the centre of his face, sew an upside down V to one side, thread back to the centre and do the other side the same.

And no eyes Yay we all hate doing eyes don't we lol.

Arms - they don't need stuffing, with right sides facing out, fold arm in half, sew down seam from the top and across his white gloves.
With the seam at the back, sew his arms to the body at the sides. I started stitching from about halfway up the red on the arm, around the top and back down halfway at the back, and left the rest of his arm loose.

If you love Christmas Knitting, you might like these 2 Christmas Knitting Books. I haven't reviewed them but they caught my eye because the patterns make up a little display for the Mantlepiece or Christmas Table, with all the characters from the popular Christmas Story and Carol. Have a look :-)Twas The Knits Before Christmas-Fiona Goble

I love this next one, I could see all the characters sitting on the Mantlepiece in line, waiting for each of the 12 days of Christmas to pass, or better still in a garland!Twelve Knits Of Christmas Fiona-Goble

About Me

Hi my name is Jenny. Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I live with my family in Brisbane Australia. I love to knit & crochet Tea Cosies.
I'm happy for you to link my patterns, please use only one photo with the link. Pasting my entire patterns into other sites or using my photos otherwise without linking is a big no no - thanks.
I also stitch, make cloth dolls, collect vintage & toy sewing machines & teapots (of course).